Morning journal and courier., 1887-06-11
Horse Hints.
Fly a Horse Owner.

cd, however, may be relied upon as the first one suggesting itself to ignorance to thoughtless inexperience. We have reason to be thankful that no revolting record is kept of the wicked, unmerited blows that have fallen upon maltreated and unhappy colts for not understanding lesson that the striker was unable to explain or to make in- telligible by translation into horse language, and thus bring it within the range of their comprehension. These would-be teachers are often enough abundantly supplied with musele-power to strike, but are less we'll furnished with the head-power necessary to instruct-even a horse. The whiplash, however severe and cruel, is powerless to supply the intelligent tact required when man would make his wishes understood by the animal in question. And it is also posi- tive that no amount of savage abuse from the slow-witted biped can teach lesson to the understanding quadruped, for which lesson brains are needed under the hat of the would-be instructor rather than muscls in the whip arm and merciless heart.
 Those familiar with unspoiled horse na- ture know that their favorite animal is not
  anxious to do what is asked of him when once the wish is plain and clear to his com- prehension. Ability to make such wish well-defned and unconfused to the under standing of horse distinguishes the suc- cessful teacher, and is a natural gift more or less decided and remarkable, that is by no means given to everyone. The possessor of this gift is sure to be conscious of and to en- joy the mastery over the brute creation pro- specially endowed is soon and sensibly en rapport with his scholar, so that rapid i'm provement with continuous progress is sure to ensue. Such a teacher rules with whip, it is true, but uses it rather as a scepter or badge of authority than as welt-raiser, with the result that his pupils respect rather than fear the lash, and willingly vie with each other in docile and cheerful obedience. In the hints here recalled no profession is made of exceptional horse-knowledge, nor is there any claim brought forward for origi- nality of means employed. Rarey's method for breaking and training with the haute- ecole system of "Baucher" for biting and riding were used and preferred. The Bau- cher system is open to the objection of being too fine and refined for the average horse man, because the trained expert saddle horse should never carry strange rider-certainly not one unacquainted with the peculiar guidance exercised by knee and spur, which makes this method difficult but quite com plete. When, however, such required and exceptional conditions are possible the reel prooal understanding resulting between rider and horse can be carried to point of nicety only known to favored few. It is in fact 8 finished style of riding best adapted to the practiced horseman, and is especially fitting and desirable for those with daily habit of the saddle.
 In my own opinion the horse can learn no more important lesson than to be not easily frightened in case of break down, accident or in fact at any time whatever.
 Throwing the horse in the manner prac- ticed and introduced by Rarsy, with accom- panying iudicious handling, teaches this les son with astonishing completeness. The writer owned a saddle horse from whom ir- stinctive prudence and natural caution seemed to have been eliminated by this  given confidence in folk and matter that nothing, however unexpected and sudden, could startle him out of his composure. And although he was eminently mettlesome and high-strung by nature, he became indif- ferent to every earthly circumstance or oc- currence not involving actual personal dis- comfort On one occasion, being left near a railway terminus and unfastened as usual, because obedient to the whistle when want ed the animal was found in the center of a half-circle of interested and amused specta- tors. The other half of the circle was occu- pied by switch-engine which "Duke' ap- peared to be inspecting carefully and exam ming critically. The engineer and fireman were amusing themselves and the group of on-lookers with their utmost but vain efforts on whistle and bell to secure some sign of notice from the horse, who appeared ab- sorbed in earnest endeavor to see and learn everything about machinery that was possi- ble without burning his nose. On another occasion he caused not little trouble by fol- lowing, unobserved, his dismounted rider across narrow plank where and from whence return by the same road was considered too dangerous to be attempted.
 The material equipment desirable for trial of the Rarey system is simple and consists of, first, knee-caps; second, a surcingle; third single, snafhe-bitted riding bridle with reins as long as may be. Leather discs are to be secured on the inside of the bars of the bit, so that. when the horse is thrown, lies upon his side and the reins are put to their special use, the bit may not draw through and out of the mouth; fourth, & soft leather strap about four feet long with leather loop on one end, large enough for the strap to run through it with easy play; and filth, strap with buckle, made exactly like the breeching straps or single harness, ex cept that the end part specially used to make turns around the shaft need not be so long,
 We may suppose that the first horse un- dertaken by the tyro trainer is not vicious, but is merely coltish, clumsy and unbroken, so that there will be no difficulty with knee caps or with bridle. The next move is to buckle on the surcingle, taking care to make it feel snug but not tight. Then let the horse be led to the place where he is to be thrown, preferably to riding ring unused by others during the lesson, or to any quiet enclosure with soft footing
 When quite alone with helper and horse, or better still without helper, loop the strap mentioned above as number four around the pastern of the off fore-foot, pass the end through the nearest part of the surcingle and leave it there with the end hanging down. Now slip the loop part of strap number five (the breeching strap just as it goes through the breeching rings on the single harness) through the surcingle under the belly, and then taking up the nigh fore-foot. buckle the strap in single loop, neither loose nor tight, around the pastern so that the horse then stands upon three legs. Always remaining on the nigh side, lead the animal around for two or three minutes, more or less, according to his fatigue or resistance. By that time he will begin to labor and be tired and al- ready have his own confidence shaken by the evident and sensible power of his antago- mist. When his steps become strides and are almost jumps, and the one tired fore-leg bends under the weight of body now out of balance, stop walking and quickly make a hard knot in the reins as close to the mane crest as is convenient; then grasp the end of the off foot-strap which we called number four with the right hand, and with the left hand take broad grip of the rein in such manner as to feel able, with turn of wrist, to guide the animal; now lean firmly against the shoulder so as to throw the horse off his balance, and thus oblige him to take up his now weary and Tagging foot. Be ready at the first movement of it gently but steadily to draw up with the right hand on strap num- Der four, and thus bring the off foot up to the surcingle and then hold it there, as the horse can exert no power to put it down again.
 The right or off foot being already looped